Collapsible sectional top table



March 13, 1951 L. ALCH 2,545,064

COLLAPSIBLE SECTIONAL TOP TABLE Filed April 6, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY www@ ATTORNEY March' 13, 1951 L.. ALCH COLLAPSIBLE SECTIONAL TOP TABLE 4 Sheec-s-Sheet 2 Filed April e, 1945 INVENTOR LEsslNG ALCH BY mmwcwr ATTORNEY FIG .4.

March 13, 1951 Flled Aprll 6 1945 March 13, 1951 l.. ALCH 2,545,064

COLLAPSIBLE SECTIONAL TOP TABLE Filed April 6, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: I EsslNG ALCH BY www# ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in game tables and, more particularly, to relatively large tables for playing table tennis, ping-pong, or any other similar game requiring a sizeable playing area.

With the increase in popularity of indoor games, such as table tennis or ping-pong as it is sometimes called, it has become increasingly important and desirable to provide a type of table which may be collapsed or folded up at will and readily stored away when not in use. Because of the relatively large area of playing surface and rigidity of construction usually required, tables heretofore made have been bulky, cumbersome, heavy in weight, and overly expensive.

It is, hence, the primary object of the present invention to provide a game table of the type stated which is sturdy, rugged, and durable, when set up for use, and which may be readily and easily collapsed or folded up and stored away When not in use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible game table which is compact when folded up so that it may be economically packed for shipment from factory or dealer to purchaser and can be conveniently handled for storage when not in use.

, It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a game table of the type stated which can be quickly and simply folded up and ,rolled away, so to speak, in a suitable closet or storage space.

y It is also an object of the present invention to provide suitable hardware for use in constructing a collapsible game table or similar article.

` And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (four sheets)- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a game table constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the game table in fully opened or so-called playing position;

v Figures 3 and 4 are side and end elevational views, respectively, of the game table in collapsed or so-called folded-up position;

l Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views of the game table taken, respectively, along lines 5 5 and 6 6 of Figure 4;

Figures 7 and 8 are side and front elevational views of a modified form of roller bracket forming a part of the present invention;

. 2 Figure 9 is-a fragmentary detail view illustrating, in perspective, the hinge structure employed in the roller bracket shown in Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 10 is a top plan view, partly in sectionv of another modied form of roller bracket forming a part of the present invention; v

Figure l1 is a fragment-ary endelevational view of the roller bracket shown in Figure 10;

Figures 12 and 13 are fragmentary side views, partly in section, of the roller bracket of Figure 10 in fully opened and fully closed positions, respectively;

Figure 14 is a perspective View of a further modii'led form of roller bracket forming a part of the present invention;

Figures 15 and 16 are top plan views of the two complementary stampings forming the principal parts ofthe roller bracket shown in Figure 14; and

Figures 17 and 18 are, respectively, top andside elevational views, partly in section, of a further modified form of roller bracket forming a part of the present invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a game table comprising two preferably square table-sections I, I', respectively inf cluding plywood tops 2. 2', having smooth playing surfaces 3, 3', and suitably finished under surfaces 4. 4. Secured around the outer margins of each of the tops 2,12', respectively, and projecting outwardly from the under faces 4, 4', are narrow side rails 5, 5', 6, 6', matching end rails 'I, 'I'. and intermediate or abutment rails 8, 8', provided in their meeting faces 9, 9', with a plurality of pairs of matching shallow recesses IU for receiving pairs of hinges Il by which the table sections I, I', are swingably secured together in such a manner that, when the table A is in fully opened or playing'l position, the playing surfaces 3, 3', will be accurately co-planar and the meeting faces 9, 9', will be in tight abutment, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

Swingably mountedinthe two outer corners ofthe table sections I, I', are outer legs I2 having conventional break-braces I3 whereby the legs I2 may be optionally disposed in upright position, as shown in Figure 2, or folded down against the under faces 4, 4', and along the respectively adjacent side rails 5, 5', 6, 6', as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Similarly mounted in the two inner corners of the table section' I, are intermediate legs I4 having break-braces I5 and being spaced inwardly from the respectively ade jacent side rails 5, B, so as to clear the outer legs l2 when folded down, as shown in Figure 4.

Bolted or otherwise rigidly mounted on the under faces 4, 4', of the tops 2, 2', respectively, are pairs of roller brackets B each comprising a mounting block |6 and a bracket-arm l1 secured together by screws I8. The bracket-arms il are disposed inv endwiseA abutment against; and.. ex'- tend outwardly' beyond; the respective interina' diate rails 9, 9', over which they are mounted,

having free under faces I9 provided with roller" tween, the roller. casters. 2l), so. that the,s entiref weightoi thetable- A becomes.` a. direct downwardA thrust.: and tends to. holdy the` entire structure iorcibly.- in closedv or folded-upf position and.

prevents the table from accidentally falling open,V

It should. furthermore be noted: that the pairs of roller brackets. B which` are mounted. upon. theunder face 4 ofl thetopA 2, arerspaced inwardly fromthe-respectiveside rails 5,. 6,;-by a` greater distancerthan thev corresponding, roller brackets B, which are mounted against the under: face if ofitheitop 2J.. Consequently,4 the-severalroller lzrlacketsI B will` not` interfere with eachY other. when the table A is openedupinto playing posi tion, and,Vv whenthe table. A is-set upfand. in. use,

willbe. in substantially concealed. or. cutest-thei-V Way. position..

On the under face 4V of the top 2`, is a rectangle lar. storage rackA C comprising; two end members 2T,.- a. bottom member 22;. and an. intermediate partition 23. Nailedlorotherywise. secured at `heir. endsupon the outwardly presented margins of' the end members.2.| and partitionESisaplurality of spaced parallel' slats 24', the entire structure being,` of such size andL shape as to provide twoA compartments c, c"f'or respectively housing ccnven't'ionalpaddles pand'pingepong. balls ,It'wili be noted in this connection that the eompart ments c;.c."are, in amanner'of speaking, openT topped when the table is in. the` collapsed ork folded-up. position shown in. Figure 4,so thatthe paddles p and ballsfb may be dropped inlo, the. compartments c, .c and will-be supported upon the bottommember 22 andk held-,againstthe slats. 2`4y y r In addition, the two net-supportingV armsl 2E are` swingably mountedlupon the outwardly presented facesV of the; side rails 5 6, adjacent the line" of" abutmentk or 'so-called: hinge line between the tab1`sectionslily-means of threaded stud'seZ-B andwing nutsv ZTI- Secured'atv its ends and extending tightly between the=arms 25, aA conventional: ping-ping net` 28.

When the table A'- isselk up playing posi-` tiong .thearms 25V maybe 'swung up? into the fpositiol'r4 shownV in: Figure. 2` andi tightened in: suchv positionbyscrewingfdownithe:wingmutszzil; PreLA paratory to foidingup;V or.A collapsingf the table; the.:V wing: nuts. 2 'l mayV bev loosenedf and: the arms Zrswung. down into thelposition. down in dotted lines: in Fig-ure 2,v in whichf. position the net. 23 will.' lie, at upon the upper. face 3A of the tabley section and will. beprotectively concealed. between the. tablefsections l.,4 whenthe` table.y is.

`reversely bent detent slot 34. Provided for cooperatiornwith the leaf 29, is a swinging leaf 35 having a knuckle 36 provided with an elongated axialypro'jecting-pintle 3l sized for snug-fitting rotating: disposition within the knuckle 3| and having a radially extending pin 3B sized for free slidingf movement. within theslot 32. The leaf 35Y is provided.' withA countersunk apertures 39, for. securernentlby. meansof'suitable screws Mito. abracketarm 4l. formedof a block ofwood which is preferably somewhat smaller. in thickness thanthe width. of the abutment rail 9` and isofsuf'- iicien-` width; so. as to proiect `a substantial distance out beyond` the rail 9. when disposed', ati right angles to the plane of the top 2.. On its. under' face and adjacent its outer'end, the arm. lll.' is provided' with aroller caster 20", substan` tially identical in allrespecst'o the previously describedroller caster 20.

It' will', of' course, be obvious that the table.`

V A may -be equipped with four roller. brackets' Blf in folded-up or collapsed position. It will thus be" evident that` the entire table andall the necinstead ofthe previously described rollerbrackets B, in which case four roller brackets B1` are.4 mounted in substantially theY same. respective positions as the previously:described.iourroller bracketsl B. When the table A,tthus.equippcd'; with four roller'brackets B11 is set up inoperative position,A the pintleA 3.7 is` shifted. downwardly within the hinge 3 and swung outwardlygso that the pin 33 is engaged in the detentlslot 34, in which position the bracket arm' 4],` will extend' downwardly and outwardly at' rightangl'es to thel plane of' the table top and, when the' table is collapsed or folded-up,V the bracketzarms 4|. will',l inv this position, function to support thetable in the manner' described' above., After the table has been collapsed, however',` it can be til't'ed slightly to one side, so that' two of: the roller brackets will be eased upwardly offof' the oor; whereuponY the" bracket arm' 4l; can be dropped, slightly downwardly to; release the pin, 38 fromv the detent slot 34 and permitthei bracket arm 4| to be swungY inwardly and',A at the Sametime.. shifted upwardly, the pintle- 31 sliding length.- wisethroughthe hinge 3| and the pinz38 shifting upwardly in the slot 32. Finally, the bracketlarm. 4| may be swung inwardly against? the under' face of." the table top in the'. manner shown. in dottedl lines in Figure. 7; Thereupon,the. table may be tilted' in the opposite direction. and the. other two roller. bracketsB similarly disengaged and'swung in out ofthe way,.thereb`y rendering: the entire structure much more compact'. The swingable roller brackets Bl haveV the very; iinportant add'edl advantage` that. the. overall. tabler structure can be, much. more readily andecono.-` mically boXedfor. shipping from. the factoryY to the ultimate usen. Furthermore,v after theta-ble has been rolled' away into a. closet or storage space, the roller brackets B? may be.V foldedl. up in the manner above described.. sothatv the table. will occupy less space and.v there. will. be. no danger of a person accidentally stumbling over als-tribalil the extended roller brackets B1 or shoving some heavy stored object, suchas a trunk, against the roller brackets B1 and breaking Aor damaging them. i It is also possible to provide a further modified form of roller bracket B2 comprising a flat oblong rectangular plate 42 formed of substantially heavy sheet metal and provided along its rearward margin with an integral centrally positioned hinge knuckle 43 for operative securement by means of a hinge pin 44 to a relatively small hinge leaf 45, which is, in turn, rigidly secured to the under face of the table A by Vmeans of wood screws 46. and bent downwardly from, one side margin of the plate 42, is a brace ear 41, and screwed or otherwise fixed to the under face of the table A', is a suitable angular brace ear 48. Operatively secured at its ends to and extending between the brace ears 41, 48, is a conventional break-brace 49, and riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the under` face of the plate 42 adjacent its free end, is a caster assembly 50. It will, of course, be understood that the table A' is preferably provided with four roller brackets B2 in much the same manner as has been previously described in connection with the table A. Consequently, when it is desired to fold up the table A', the bracket arms will extend outwardly and the folded table structure will be supported from the iioor by casters 50 and may, therefore, be rolled away into a suitable storage space. In packaging the table for shipment or for'rendering the table more compact when rolled away into a storage space, the roller bracket B2 may be folded in against the under face of the table by breaking the brace 49 at its joint in the conventional manner andswinging the plate upwardly into the position shown lin Figure 13.

A, similar but slightly modifled sheet metal roller bracket B3 may also be provided, which Vcomprises two suitably stamped sheet metal plates 5I, 52, respectively provided with matching ears 53, 54, 55, 55, 51, and 58, all of which are bent upwardly at right angles to the main plane of the plates 5l, 52. The plate 52 is further provided with a plurality of countersunk apertures 59 for receiving screws by which the bracket B3 may be attached to the under face of a ping-pong table. that the distance between the opposed faces of the ears 55, 51, of the plate 52 is slightly greater than the corresponding distance between the bent-up ears 5, 55, of the plate 5l, so that the latter may be tted freely within the former and the ears 54, 58, and 55, 51, respectively, secured together by suitable hinge rivets 50. Finally, a, break-brace 6l is operatively secured at its ears to and extends between the bent-up ears 53, 58, and the plate 5| is provided upon its under face with a caster structure 52, all as best seen in Figure 14.

If desired, a roller bracket B4 may be provided, which is substantially similar to the previously described roller bracket B3 and includes two com-V panion plates 5I', 52', correspondingly similar to the plates 5I, 52, except that the plates 5I", 52', are provided with complementary intertting hinge knuckles 63, 53', and are operatively held together by a hinge pin 54.

It should =be understod that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the game table may be made and substituted for those Also formed integrally with,

It should also be noted herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game table adapted optionally to be folded up for storage and opened up for use, said table comprising two hingedly connected top sections each provided with collapsible legs for supporting the top sections in horizontal table-forming position, and a plurality of roller means' mounted upon the under side of the top sections in substantially concealed position when the top sections are in table-forming position, each roller means including a mounting element fixed upon the under side of a top section, a bracket arm swingably mounted on the mounting element, and a caster mounted on the bracket arm.

2. A game table adapted optionally to be folded up for storage and opened up for use, said table comprising two hingedly connected top sections each provided with collapsible legs for supporting the top sections in horizontal table-forming position, and a plurality of roller means mounted upon the under side of the top sections in substantially concealed position when the top sections are in table-forming position and being adapted to support the table when the latter is folded up, each roller means including a mounting element fixed upon the under side of a top section, a bracket arm swingably mounted on the mounting element, a caster mounted on the bracket arm, and means associated with the bracket arm for optionally holding said arm in two selected positions in relation to the top section, in one of which positions the arm-will be disposed inoperatively against the under side of the top section upon which it is mounted and in the other of which positions the caster will be disposed so as to support the table when it is folded up whereby to permit said table to be conveniently rolled away for storage.

3. A game table adapted to be folded and -opened-up optionally for storage and for use, said table comprising two top sections each having a at playing surface, hinge means connecting adjacent margins of said sections together, collapsible legs operably mounted on the undersides of said sections and being adapted to be folded outwardly from said sections for supporting said sections in substantially horizontal position with the playing surfaces in co-planar alignment when the table is in opened-up position, and roller means operatively mounted on the underside of each section adjacent the hingedly connected margins thereof and being spaced laterally outwardly from the hinged margins a substantial distance from the under-face thereof in cantil lever relation thereto in such a manner that when the table is folded-up into inoperative position the roller means will support the entire foldedup table in vertical position with its hingedly connected margins disposed upwardly from the oor, said roller means being located a suilicient distance outwardly from the under-surface of the section to provide a bearing upon the floor as the table sections are swung outwardly away from each other into operative position and hold the hingedly connected margins of said sections upwardly from the floor during such opening movement.

4. A game table adapted to be folded and opened-up optionally for storage and for use, said table comprising two top sections each having a at playing surface, hinge means connecting adjacent margins of said sections together,

collansilelegs: onerlably mounted.. onL the.I undere sides; of: saidv sections. and beine.; adapted.. to; be.

when. the table.; is folded-up. into. inoperative po.'v-

siton the, roller means will support the. entire foldedmp table in;` Vertical... position.. with. its hiriggerlly.- connected, margins.. disposed. upwardly; from the floonpsaidroller means. being located a suicient; distance, Qutxi/aidlyY irom, the undersurfcefof the section to provide. abearing upon the floor. as the, tablev sections; are swungY out? Wardly awa-y fromeachother into operatiye posi.- tion; and. hold thehingedly connected marginsA oi.. said` seetionsiupwardly from the floor duringsuch opening movemennand-means for.. optionally lock.- ing. the table sectionsV together when they are folded together into upright position..

K 5. A1 game. table. adapted to.y be. folded, and opened-up optionally for storageandior use, said tablecomprising twotop sectionsA eachhaving a flat .playing surface, hinge means connecting.. ad.- jacent-margins of said` sections together,V collapsible legs operably mountedon-v4 the undersides.. of Said. sections andy being adapted to. befoldedout.- vvardly` from saidsectionsfor supporting said see.-

tions insubstantially horizontal position withthe playing surfaces, in. co-planar, alignment when the tableA is in. opened-up position, and. retractible: roller. means operatively mounted. on the underside.. of. each` section adjacent. the hingedlfy connectedmargins thereof and being, spaced. latterally outwardly, from the hinged margins aesubstantialdistance and being optionally positionable in retractedlpositicn against. the under-face of.thegsection.anim.extendedpositionontwardli from the-.underfiaoec of. the; section; in. cantilever.- relation.. thereto, inisnoh a.: manner; that; Whenzthe table is folded" up into inoperative positiorrthfrl roller means. will, Support. the.. entire, foldesivuo table.` invertical. position. with, hingedlgA con: nected .margins disposed upilvnardly` from the from,y said,A rollermeans. loeing located' a., sulcient` dis:- tance., outwardly. from. the.v umori-surface Ofi theA section to. provide. a bearing. upon. the. floor as7 the. table.. Sections are. swung outwardly away.' from. each.- other into, oneretiye. position. andi hold. the. hingedliconnected. margins. ofi said: Sections unwardly from; the, 119.01. during. such; opening.; movement', said'-ro11er.- means. uizther.- being: 11e:- tractihle. to. permit.. the, hingedlxf connected; man girls.. oi; the sections to; drop: downwandly into., 11.1.1.- supnorted. position... directly upon. the. oox: with'. the. rollermeansfdisposedicomrgaotly againsttheir nespective. sections.,

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The following' references.' are of recordz in; the;

le of thisipatentr:

` UNITED STA'IESIl PATENTS Number.. Name. Date;

172013, Garretlson, Jan.. 11 18.7.6 1,922,646.. T011. Apr. 9.., 1912. 1.050.352., Deutsohnran` w. J en. 154,. 1.91.31 1,902,166'. Harter, 1,. 21",.Y 1333. 1,911,750., Collignonz ML-@m1 Max 351.1933 2,1.'74gi13.F B1as.ch.le. .1. Oct; 3. 19.3.3. 2,20%107. une 11 134i! 2,242,150 1941. 2,251,522V 1.9.4.1. 2,321,328 19413- FOREIGN. RATEN'rsf. Number. Country Date.

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